CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Chesapeake City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to begin updating the city’s rules for solar and battery energy storage facilities. This unanimous vote could affect the proposed Mill Stone Energy Center Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Hickory area.
The council approved two initiating resolutions on June 23, 2026, directing the Chesapeake Planning Commission to consider and make recommendations on proposed amendments to both the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan and Article 13 of the Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance. The changes are required to bring local regulations in line with new state laws passed during the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly.
Two sets of bills passed by the General Assembly are driving the changes…